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Malik seeks judicial probe against Zulfiqar Mirza allegations
LAHORE: Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik has sent a letter to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani urging him for the constitution of a judicial commission regarding the allegations levelled by Zulfiqar Mirza.Talking to a delegation of local journalists at his Defence Housing Authority residence here on Sunday, he said, the PPP had always been advocating for an independent election commission.
To a question, he ruled out the possibility of holding any mid-term election, saying when the provinces had in writing admitted that environment was not conducive to hold even the by-election.
He said that free, fair and transparent elections are always in the interest of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which is popular among the people and has its roots in all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Balitistan.
The PM said that the PPP would convince the other parliamentary parties including the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) to hold local government election prior to the next general election.
The Election Commission, he added, had told him that computerised voters list would be compiled by April 2012.
The PPP government is adhering to the politics of reconciliation and now it is up to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to ensure its comeback or not, he told a questioner.
To another question, he said, Zulfiqar Mirza is a committed PPP man and that he will not resort to creating any new party.
"I do appreciate Mr. Mirza, who unlike others criticised the party, but after quitting all the party offices and resigning as a Sindh minister," he said.
Responding to a query, he said that the Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik had sent a facsimile (fax) to the Prime Minister's office last night, urging for the constitution of a judicial commission regarding the allegations levelled against him by Zulfiqar Mirza.
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that he had complete confidence in the country's armed forces, Pakistan Rangers, police and all other law enforcement agencies.
To a question he said that the Sindh Cabinet and law enforcement agencies, at a briefing, had pointed out nine troubled areas in Karachi and had suggested action there to maintain peace in the port city.
Gilani added that he had directed them to take action across the board in those areas without discrimination. "I am confident the law enforcement agencies will not resort to any action, which is not in the interest of Pakistan," he said.
The Prime Minister said that all the state institutions, armed forces and law enforcement agencies are loyal to the country and working for security and peace.
He said the government was taking effective steps for rescue and relief of the flood-hit people in Sindh and Balochistan, adding, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was also coordinating with the respective governments and distributing meals and tents to the affected people.
To a question, he said, "After the last year's devastating floods, we have enhanced the rescuers' capacity, repaired the water courses, improved early flood warning system and directed the NDMA to work at grassroots level by coordinating at first with the district government, then provincial and federal governments keeping in view the magnitude of the calamity."
He said no one can avert the natural calamities and this time the flood intensity was very high, adding, flood damages increased because of the construction of various structures on the water courses/drains in the cities.
About power crisis, the prime minister said that a committee comprising Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Petroleum Minister Dr. Asim, State Bank's Acting Governor and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission would give recommendations to the Federal Cabinet.
And the government, he added, would also arrange an Energy Conference, to be participated by all the chief ministers.
Unlike the past practice of execution of power generation projects only through the federal government, he said, now the provincial governments, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan governments were also focusing on the electricity generation.
Replying to a reporter's query, he said, the police and other investigation agencies would soon manage to make a headway in the investigation for early recovery of Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former slained Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. (APP)
Courtesy www.geo.tv